Game apparatus



(No Model.)

A. GROMWELL. GAME APPARATUS.

No. 460,431. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

W/TNESSES //v VENTOR A TTOHNE YS UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE;

ALBERT CROMXVELL, OF PHILADELPHIA,-PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,431, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed March 23, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT OROMWELL, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedGame Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in games; and the object of myinvention is to produce a simple game which requires a great amount ofskill and patience to be successfully played, and which is adapted to beplayed by one person.

To this end my invention consists in a game, substantially ashereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l'is a plan view of the apparatus used in playing the game. Fig.2 is a crosssection of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 isa plan view of a modified form of the apparatus.

A game-board 10, which has a central concave portion 11 in its upperface and a vertical flange 12 around its edge, is used in playing thegame, and upon the board are placed concentrically rows of pins 13,which pins have a comparatively broad base and are placed in shallowsockets in the upper surface of the board. The pins of the inner row, asshown in Fig. 1,are arranged in horseshoe shape around the centralconcavity 11 of the board, thus leaving an opening on one side, and thepins of the outer row are placed adjacent to the flange 12, so as toentirely encircle the inner row. A top 14 is used in playing the game,which top is provided with a spindle 15, so that it may be easily spunby the fingers, and with a series of facets 16 on its sides, the facetsbeing made so that angles will be produced, which, when striking one ofthe pins, will quickly topple it over.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form .of the apparatus, and in thiscase the pins are fixed to the board, the inner row 17 being of anapproximately horseshoe shape and having the opening 18 on one sideflanked by radial lines of pins 19, and'opposite the entrance Serial No.386,062- (No model.)

to' the inner circle are rows of pins 20, which are arranged intriangular shape, the apex of the angle being toward the opening, andanother row of pins 21 encircles the greater portion of the inner row ofpins. The top 14 is circular in form, with a smooth periphery. It willthus be seen that in both the main form and the modified form a pathwayis formed between the outer and inner row of pins, through which a topmay be made to ass. p The game is played as follows: The player holdsthe board 10 in as level a position as possible with one hand and withthe other spins the top in the concavity 11 of the board. He then tiltsthe board and endeavors to guide the top so that it will pass outthrough the opening'of the inner row of pins, around the pathway betweenthe inner and outer rows, and back through the opening to the centeragain without knocking over a pin. This is extremely difficult to do, asthe least touch of one of the angles of the top will quickly tip over apin. In spinning the top on the modified form of board the game is notso difficult, and the object is to make the top pass out through theentrance to the inner row of pins and around the pathway, as in thepreceding case, and back into the center again. In this case it isnecessary to spin the top violently, and the projecting points of thepin-rows make it difficult to guide the top entirely around the board.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- 1. A game apparatus comprising a board havingconcentric rows of pins thereon, the inner row having a side opening,and a spindle-top having faceted sides, substantially as described.

2. A game apparatus comprising a flanged board having concentric rows ofpins thereon, the inner row having a side opening and also a centralconcave portion, and a spindletop having faceted sides,substantially asdescribed.

3. A game apparatus comprising a flanged board, rows of pins placedloosely and arranged concentrically thereon, the inner row having a sideopening, and a top having a spindle and faceted sides, substantially asdle-top having faceted sides,substantiallyas described. described.

4. A game apparatus comprising a flanged l J board havlng rows 01: pinsarranged concell- ALBLRL CROM ELL trically thereon, the pins restingloosely in \Vitnesses: sockets in the board and the inner row hav- HENRYC. FORNER, ing a side opening, as described and a spin- GEORGE XV.SELTZER.

